Economic Survey of Austria 2005: Fostering productivity growth and innovation
OECD Economic Survey of Austria 2005, Chapter 4. This chapter proposes reforms to raise productivity growth in Austria. The contribution of business start-ups to productivity growth could be raised, through reducing administrative burdens and improving the framework conditions for the provision of risk capital, notably venture capital. Steps should also be taken to raise competition in product markets, improving competition law enforcement, liberalising regulation of the services of the liberal professions and exposing incumbents in the electricity and telecoms industries to more competition. Obstacles to structural change originating in labour market regulation should be removed. Reforms in secondary and tertiary education can improve the skills base of the economy, strengthening its capacity to reap the productivity potential of new technologies, such as ICT. While R&D spending has increased in recent years, government support for R&D can become more effective.